Comments on: Game 138: Mets at Natshttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/
News, analysis and commentary from someone who has covered the Washington Nationals since Day 1Sun, 02 Aug 2015 22:22:37 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.com/By: sjm308http://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60313
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:21:32 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60313Natslady – will miss these next two but will be at the following 3 – love to drop by and say hi if you are there – its only one level down – I am guessing you are not in the Stars and Stripes, is that right?Root hard for our boy LannEnGo nats
]]>By: Drew8http://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60308
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:24:49 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60308Gonat: The truth will out and we shall see.Career OPSTyler Moore .801Chris Marrero .809Derek Norris .857The thing about Norris is it's not just on base percentage. It's pop. He has a fine slugging percentage, too.Career minor league slugging percentage:Tyler Moore .483Chris Marrero .457Derek Norris .455
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Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:15:00 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60307True, Derek Norris is no Barry Bonds. LOL
]]>By: Drew8http://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60305
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:04:21 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60305Scoot:You're welcome. Thanks for the tip o' the lid.
]]>By: Gonathttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60304
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:02:52 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60304Drew8, we all know of his great OBP and the problem is when you get to AAA and then to the Majors, they won't throw you 4 balls to walk you when you have a low Batting Average. This isn't Barry Bonds so while it is great he works the count in his favor, trust me, it won't work at the higher levels.And Derek Norris has been "highly regarded" and you will see in the next Baseball America that they downgraded him.
]]>By: NatsJack in Floridahttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60302
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:58:45 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60302Hey NatsLady… keep track of all the Anonymous posters that stop by to intoduce themselves….I met alot of our regulars during Spring Training but not one Anonymous.
]]>By: Scooterhttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60301
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:57:48 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60301Thanks for the OBP dope, Drew. You're the ginchiest.
]]>By: Drew8http://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60300
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:55:10 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60300I'm bullish on Derek Norris, as noted previously. I think folks tend to overemphasize his poor batting average this year.Norris has a career on base percentage of .402 and a career OPS of .857. This year he has an OPS of .796 despite the awful batting average.He has maintained his power, hitting 23 homers at Hagerstown and 19 at Harrisburg.As a catcher he has a strong arm. In 331 career games he has thrown out 40 percent of would-be base stealers. The concern is passed balls. He has 73 in 331 career games.For comparison, Brian McCann had 23 passed balls in 207 minor league games, but only threw out 34 percent of his baserunners.FWIW, in his post on Nats farmhands picked for the Arizona Fall League, Kilgore referred to "the highly regarded Class AA Harrisburg catcher Derek Norris."
]]>By: NatsLadyhttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60299
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:50:17 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60299Will be in Sec 225 today again if anyone cares to say "hello" in person. If you are in your backyard fixing steaks, you are excused.Go Nats!
]]>By: Gonathttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60298
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:46:05 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60298sjm308 said… Gonat – I sort of agree with you on Norris – have not heard much about what kind of defense he brings. I think both Ramos and Flores are plus defenders with good arms. Is Norris in that catagory as well?When does this group feel Rizzo will start to trade some of talent mentioned here for an established CF? Or will he? September 5, 2011 10:17 AM __________________________________Norris has a good arm and getting better with the glove. Its getting hits that will hold him back. A .200 batting average at AA will only get worse as he progresses unless someone changes his approach. Rizzo's window to get great return for him was last year. If they can't fix Norris, he becomes a dime a dozen backup catcher which is a real shame.Rizzo knows better than us who out of the group I named are the real future Major Leaguers. Next to the Rays and Pirates, I think the Nats have the best depth in pitchers. I don't think it is about trying to convince you a Detwiler is a top starter, it is seeing uber domination in the Minors and you have to check out Matt Moore of the Durham of the Rays AAA. The kid is the best lefty I have seen this year. There may be others but I have seen this kid. Untouchable. He was an 8th round pick out of High School 4 years ago and actually improved from AA to AAA as they changed his delivery.That's what has to happen with the Nats pitchers in the Minors. Refining deliveries and adding 'plus' pitches to their repitoire.
]]>By: baseballswamihttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60297
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:31:02 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60297I would love to see Lannan have a game that really shows what he can do. He has also been a little snake-bitten ( no reference to the d'backs intended) this year with lack of run support, errors, and getting hit in the schnozz. New goal – win two games in a row.But first they have to win that first one! That 75 win goal is looking a little less doable with the way the nats have been playing lately. Hoping they can turn it around. Last Labor Day Danny put on a show. Looks like there might be a little clear weather window to get the game in.
]]>By: Big Cathttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60296
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:27:37 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60296Yeah….I saw a lot of Norris last year at Potomac and wasn't overwhelmed. Bat looked very slow to me.
]]>By: sjm308http://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60295
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:17:16 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60295Gonat – I sort of agree with you on Norris – have not heard much about what kind of defense he brings. I think both Ramos and Flores are plus defenders with good arms. Is Norris in that catagory as well?When does this group feel Rizzo will start to trade some of talent mentioned here for an established CF? Or will he?
]]>By: Gonathttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60294
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:13:23 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60294Natsfan1a, thanks for that link. For anyone who followed USA Baseball and top Amateur pitchers, Steve Reich is another Pat Tillman type of story.http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/columns/story?columnist=wojnarowski_adrian&id=2098632
]]>By: Gonathttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60293
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:07:12 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60293Big Cat, Drew8 was looking at middle infielders, I looked at all infielders and talked about all Top Prospects. By the way, still hope for Destin Hood and Eury Perez. Also, I no longer consider Derek Norris a top prospect, I know that isn't a popular decision. His batting average is a huge problem being Mendoza-esque, love the OBP and who wouldn't. He has to show he can hit.As far as Josh Smoker, he like Garrett Mock were looking promising as relievers. Both had bad weekends. Smoker just isn't progressing fast enough. So many promising pitchers and the beauty of pitchers is that some of the fringe pitchers are able to add pitches to their repitoire so a Martis can re-emerge. Adding to Tom Milone, AJ Cole, Solis, Taylor Jordan, Ray, Martis, Rosenbaum, Lehman, Rafael Martin, Brad Meyers, Peacock, and the newly acquired Alex Meyer and Purke.
]]>By: natsfan1ahttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60292
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:46:10 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60292Another 9/11 hero story to go along with Andrew's above.On a baseball note, hope that they can get today's game in, as we have (upper deck, as usual) tix for it. Also hope that LannEn can lead our boys to victory on the field.
]]>By: Big Cathttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60291
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:13:34 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60291A couple more names to think about. Lefty Danny Rosenbaum was a combined 9-6 with Potomac and Harrisburg. Gave up only 140 hits in 170 innings with 135 k's. Might be the next MiloneHigh draft pick Sammy Solis was a combined 8-3 with Hagerstown and Potomac. Had a 3.26 era in 96 innings. Also had 93 k's. Overall….a solid seasonBowden boy Josh Smoker, after battling arm problems for a couple years, was made a reliever in Potomac. Was 5-2 with a2.31 era. In 50innings he gave up only 32 hits and k'd 56. A drawback…..37 bb's. Still, a plus season for Josh
]]>By: natsfan1ahttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60290
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:07:25 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60290I think Auburn made it, too?
]]>By: Big Cathttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60289
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:52:29 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60289A couple more tidbits from the minors: Tyler Moore had another monster year in Harrisburg. Ended at .272 with 31 bombs and 90 ribbies. A drawback….136 k's Last years golden boy, catcher Derek Norris, hit a robust .203 with 19 hr's and 45rbi's to go with his 117 k's. Never fear, we will get him down in winter ball and let Eck work his magic with him.Congrats to both Potomac and Harrisburg for making the post season.
]]>By: baseballswamihttp://natsinsider.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2/comment-page-1/#comment-60288
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:46:22 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/game-138-mets-at-nats-2#comment-60288I think the issue of bench players is a complicated one. You want them to have defensive ability for late game switches, you want them to have speed to run for people, and versatility so they can play anywhere. On top of that you want them to spend most of their time sitting and then be able to come into a game late and hit well. I know Riggs was criticized (well, bashed, really) for playing all 25 guys to keep the bench players fresh so that they would be ready when called upon. Hairston did a fabulous job filling in for Zim. I think if somebody is still fantastic then they have a regular starting spot with a team. If their career is on a downswing then can they really have a high average as a pinch hitter and do all the things listed above? What is realistic for a bench players skills? What is a realistic batting average? Nix and Gomes are not even really platoon players anymore since Morse is in the outfield. NatsLady – you nailed it with the "rules" , too.
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